Then again, maybe that isn’t the best cite, even it calls itself “official”…
Googling turns up a lot of debate on the subject. I still say “mine”.
Just as I suspected - the downunder folk all think they’re saying “Mate”. I thought so too.
But No. As Andrew Stanton the Director clearly says in the Commentary - it’s “Mine”.
I think “Mate” is so much funnier; like they’re ingratiating themselves with you to get a scrap of food - rather than just being greedy and selfish.
On the DVD there’s a little scene that shows the seagulls repeating their line in different languages – it was definitely “mine”, given how it was translated.
I thought they were saying “mate” as well. I was quite dissapointed when I heard the director say that it was “mine” on the DVD commentary. “Mate” is a lot funnier.
Weirdness. Makes we wonder - did Australians provide the voice for the seagulls? I’ve only seen it once so it’s a bit hazy.
Odd that would we all hear the wrong word when it’s spoken by one of us - it could be the particular inflection that puts that expression in our heads.
I was told by another Australian, well actually he was a Kiwi… as am I… no matter, I’ll start again.
I was told by another man of great stature, that one of the funny parts of the movie (of which there are many) was how the seagulls all cried “Mate! mate! mate!” Thus I viewed the movie with a preconception and can not be counted as a data point for Aussies who heard “mate!” instead of “mine!”, partly because I’m not. An Aussie. Or a data point.
All would be right in the world if they’d just change that pesky little piece of DVD commentary where he talks about the seagulls and their vocabulary.